Multiple valve



March 3,1953 R, L, LAY 2,630,324

' M MULTIPLE VALVE Filed April 24, 195o X n BY Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Roy Lay, Rocky Ford, Colo. Application April 24, 195o, serial No. 157,683

This disclosure has reference to aimultipledischarge valve, and while adaptable for many uses, it is more particularly designed for use on the spray pipes of sugar centrifugals. Spray pipes in sugar centrifugals extend vertically within the whirling screen andare provided with a plurality of vertically spaced sprays forwashing the sugar crystals on the screen. The usual spray pipe has been troublesome due to the fact that when the water is shut oi, the entire pipe will drain through the lowermost sprays so as to place more water on the lower crystals than on the Hupper, resulting in either a non-uniform washing or a wasteful dissolving of sugar crystals.

'The principal object of this invention is to provide a valve structure for spraypipes inwhich every spray along the pipe will open and close individually and simultaneously so as to prevent certain sprays from operating after the others have ceased, and to prevent drainage through the lowermost sprays.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single operating member for simultaneously operating a plurality of valves.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and elciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the ino vention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view, partially in section, of a typical spray pipe with the invention incorporated therein, illustrating the valves in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section, taken on the line 2--2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar cross-section, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail, perspective view of the valve member in the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 3, illustrating the valve in the open position.

The invention is built into a spray pipe I0 extending downwardly from a T-fitting I I, through which fluid is supplied to the spray pipe from a supply pipe 32. The lower extremity of the spray pipe is closed by means of a threaded plug 33. A plurality of cross tubes I2 extend through the spray pipe I0 at spaced-apart intervals.

2' claims.v (ol. :w1- 20) The cross tubes are of smaller diameter than the spray-type pipe I0, and project from both sides of the latter. These cross tubes are soldered, brazed, or otherwise sealed to the spray pipe I0. They could, of course, be formed integrally with the spray pipe if preferred.

One extremity of each cross tube is externally threaded to receive a spray nozzle cap I3. The other extremity is internally threaded to receive a threaded plug I4. The spray extremity of each tube is formed with a spray vport I5 of smaller diameter than the remainder of the tube so as to form a tapered valve seat I6. y l

A valve member I'I is slidably mounted in each cross tube I2. The valve members are formed with a tapered valve point I8 adapted to close the tapered vseats I6. One side of 'each valve member I1 is cut away intermediate its extremities to form an elongated side notch I9 therein. The inner extremity of each side notch is rounded, as indicated at 20.

The valve members II are provided with screw driver slots 2| into which a screw driver or similar tool may be inserted for rotating the valve to grind or lap it to its seat. The pointed extremities I8 of the valves I'I are constantly urged against the seats I6 by means of compression springs 22 acting against the plugs I4.

The tubes I2 are longitudinally slotted, as indicated at 23, on their upper end lower sides for the passage of a cam bar 24 which extends through the side notch I9 of each valve member I'I. The forward edge of the cam bar 24 is straight. The rearward edge, however, is inclined at intervals, as shown at 25, to form narrow portions 26.

When the narrow portions 26 of the cam bar are opposite each of the valve members I'I, the latter will be released so that the springs 22 may force them to their seats. When the wide portions of the cam bar 24, however, are forced opposite the valve members, the inclined portions 25 of the cam 'bar will act against the rounded ends 20 of the notches I9 to force the valve members I'I from their seats against the action of the springs 22 as shown in Fig. 5.

The cam bar 24 is reciprocated by means of a valve stem 21 formed on one extremity of the bar and connected with any suitable handle or other operating mechanism (not shown). The valve stem 2'! passes through a terminal plug 28 threaded into the upper extremity of the T-fitting II, and is sealed against leakage by means of suitable packing 29 and packing nut 30.

Discharge passages 3l are drilled in each tube I2 adjacent the valve seat I6 to allow fluid to iow from the pipe l0 to the spray port I5 when the valve member is withdrawn, as shown in Fig. 5.

It can be readily seen that when the cam fbar 24 is in the position of Fig. 1, all of the sprays along the spray pipe will be closed. It can also be seen that if the cam bar 24 is pulled upwardly, all of the sprays will beopened simultaneously. This* prevents the fluid from the spray pipe from draining through the lowermost sprays thereon when the cam bar is int the closed position of Fig. 1.

While a specic form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it^is-'.to v

be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims,V without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described V-the invention, what is claimed and desiredsecured by Letters .Patent is.

1. A lmultiple valve structure comprising: a pipe; a plurality of cross tubesextending through said pipe at spaced-apart intervals; a valve seat in one extremity of each tube; avalve member inV each tube positioned to close said valve seat; a spring in the ,other extremity of each tube urging the valve member therein toward its seat, there being elongated openings inthe top and bottom of each tube, and there being a notch formed in the side of each valve member; a cam bar extending klongitudinally within said pipe through theopenings in said 'tubes and through the notches in said valve member; and e;

inclined cam surfaces on said bar adapted to contact the. extremities of said notches when 4 said bar is moved in one direction to force said valve members from their seats.

2. A multiple valve structure comprising: a. pipe; a plurality of cross tubes of smaller diameter than said pipe extending diametrically and completely through said pipe at spacedapart intervals, both extremities of each tube projecting outwardly from said pipe; a valve seat in one extremity of each tube; a valve member in each tubefpositoned `to close said valve seat; a spring insthe other extremity o1' each tube urging the valve member therein toward its seat, there being elongated openings in thetop and bottom of each tube, and there being Ya notch formed in the side of each valve member; af' cam bar extending longitudinally within said pipe through the openings in said tubes and through the notches in said valve member; andY inclined cam surfaces on said bar adapted to contact the extremities of said nutches. when said bar is moved in one direction to force said :valve members from their seats.

ROY L. LAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 367,563 Vielhaber Aug. 2, 1887 839,188 Obertop Dec. 25, 1906 860,595' Curtis July 16, 1907 1,297,135 Fricker Mar. 11, 1919 1,364,555- Hunt Jan. 4, 1921 1,477,023 Anderson Dec. 11, 1923 

